Following an Instagram challenge in which it encouraged its
customers to get outside instead of shopping on Black Friday, Outdoor
Research, the manufacturer of industry leading outdoor apparel and
accessories, this week donated $5,000 to Paradox
Sports,
a Seattle non-profit that helps create adaptive sports communities.

Joining the ranks of outdoor retailer REI, Outdoor Research
opted to close its doors on Black Friday and encouraged its employees and consumers to get outside
instead. OR asked them to post their adventures on
Instagram using REI’s #OptOutside as well as the #OutdoorResearch
tags. Over the course of the campaign, Black Friday and the following weekend, OR
pledged to donate $10 to Paradox Sports for every post using both hash tags, up
to $5,000.

Nearly
1,000 people posted using #OptOutside and #OutdoorResearch. Instagram
highlights from the campaign included skiing in Breckenridge, Colo.; ice climbing
in Hyalite Canyon, Mont.; and backpacking in Zion National Park, Utah.

“Inspiring
people to get outside, have fun, and, through that, better understand
themselves and our planet is a core value at Outdoor Research. That’s why we
felt it was so important to support REI in its #OptOutside campaign,” said Dan
Nordstrom, CEO of Outdoor Research. “A huge thank you goes out to those who
joined Outdoor Research in opting outside and giving back.”

For more information on the
campaign and to view some of best shots, visit OR’s Verticulture blog.